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Truck market in Western Europe improving on a broad front

Berlin, 27 August 2015

July growth of 20 percent – double-digit increase also on German market

The Western European market for heavy commercial vehicles over 6 tons has started the second half of 2015 with keen growth – in July new registrations showed a year-on-year increase of 20 percent, reaching 22,800 units. This means that the market has recorded double-digit growth for five months in succession. All the major national markets in Western Europe expanded markedly. Sales over the first seven months of the current year came to 148,100 units, 15 percent up on the volume in the same period last year. “Now – after the pre-buy effect of 2013 and the following weak year in 2014 owing to the introduction of Euro VI vehicles – the Western European market for heavy commercial vehicles is once again on a path of growth. The economic recovery in Western Europe and the replacement of existing vehicles are really invigorating the market,” said Matthias Wissmann, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA).

Demand for heavy commercial vehicles is picking up in Germany, too. New registrations rose by 10 percent in July to 7,800 units. The market is therefore showing positive growth following several weaker months. This year 48,700 new heavy commercial vehicles have been registered so far (+1 percent).

On the French market 3,500 trucks over 6 tons were sold last month (+13 percent). Since January, sales have climbed by 9 percent to 23,800 vehicles.

New registrations in the United Kingdom exceeded those in the same month last year by more than one third (+34 percent). The robust overall economic development is proving to be a major driver of sales in the UK. Then there is also the strong underlying effect from the switch to the new Euro VI exhaust standard. With a year-to-date total of 22,700 units, the market had grown 46 percent by the end of July.

In Spain, new registrations soared by 75 percent to 1,900 units. However, the market development here is currently receiving an additional boost from a scrapping bonus for heavy commercial vehicles (“Plan PIMA Transporte”). New registrations this year have so far risen to 11,600, climbing by just over half (+51 percent).

On the Italian commercial vehicle market 1,400 heavy commercial vehicles were sold (+25 percent), but starting from a low level last year. The need for replacement vehicles due to the aging fleet is currently pushing market development. In the first seven months of this year new registrations increased by 16 percent (8,200 units).

The Netherlands also recorded strong growth in July, with 1,100 new registrations (+29 percent). So far this year 8,300 heavy commercial vehicles have been sold there (+64 percent).